Marijuana Blog

LA Confidential is a commercial seed strain that captures the genetics of OG Kush. An Afghan strain grown from clones, OG Kush first became popular in the Los Angeles market in the 1990s, and then became world famous as California rappers like Snoop Dogg and Cypress Hill name-checked it in their songs. OG Kush offers a hash-like experience from reefer: a resinous smoke, deep and spicy-sweet like nutmeg, that draws the smoker into a lush, slightly trippy dreamland. While "Authentic OG Kush" may be hard to find if you're not a rap star, DNA's LA Confidential brings the secrets of this celebrity smoke to the market.

Success stories are the best way to keep people positive about marijuana. Especially those stories that involve the scarier of the afflictions, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and cancer. By reading the success that some patients have had once they begin to utilize the power of cannabis, we can point other patients in the right direction, towards a cure that really does work. These stories will also hopefully help people to see that cannabis is 100% beneficial to human life and we should be cherishing the plant, rather than sticking it in the shadows.

Trevor Smith is a 54 year old British man with three children. Back in 2012, Smith was told that he had bladder cancer. To make matters worse, the doctors informed this poor man that he would be dead in less than 24 months if surgery was not immediately performed to remove the cancerous nodes that had covered his bladder, prostate, and lymph nodes. With such an invasive surgery and the prospect of losing some of his organs, Smith decided to take matters in to his own hands and began researching alternative medicines on his computer. He stumbled across the cannabis oil cure and was immediately interested. Smith then made the choice to try oil rather then undergo the potentially life threatening surgery.

Ten weeks after Smith was supposed to have the surgery, the doctors say that Smith has gone in to remission, even though they previously warned him of imminent death if he did not go through surgery. Regardless, Smith has now been cancer free for over a year now and he claims that his life is owed to the healing properties of cannabis oil. Now that this 54 year old knows the positive benefits of this treatment, he is insisting that more people be aware of the medical cannabis benefits that most people turn a blind eye to.

Smith and his wife actually wrote a book to chronicle the events that they went through while using the oil. Over ten weeks, Smith ingested 60 grams of cannabis oil a day. The oil regimen was paired with a healthy diet and vitamin supplements that had also been recommended as an alternative to surgery. However, Smith had attempted this method without the oil prior to his discovery of the substance and the cancer was still managing to spread. He and his wife, 55 year old Carol, were not fond users of cannabis before this incident but they have had their minds drastically changed by the increase of life that Smith now possesses.

Studies produced by the National Cancer Institute state that there were anti-tumor effects contained in cannabinoids. When cannabinoids were given to rats and mice, the size of their cancerous tumors shrunk drastically. This happens because the cannabinoids inhibit the growth of new cancer cells, invasive tumors, and the development of new cells that are needed for cancerous tumor growth. The end findings of these studies done by the National Cancer Institute lead to one statement; cannabinoids appear to destroy only tumor cells, while not effecting the healthy cells present in the body, plus offer a form of protection against future attacks of cancerous tumors. The evidence is clear. Cannabis can help the sick and it's time to stop oppressing it.

I have had many friends visit Barcelona, Spain, and they always comment on how marijuana friendly it is. The marijuana is top quality, affordable, and isn’t hard to find from what people tell me. I have never been there before, but I plan on making a trip there someday. Barcelona has had a growing reputation as a top marijuana tourism destination in Europe. It sounds like that reputation isn’t sitting well with government officials. Per Forbes:

After conducting inspections of 145 of the fast-growing cannabis clubs, city officials announced “deficiencies” in management of almost 50 of them, including the illegal sale of cannabis, attempting to attract non-members to their premises, poor ventilation and problems for the neighborhoods where they’re located.

Alerted by an article in the New York Times, Barcelona’s government decided to take on the city’s growing international reputation as a haven for weed smokers.

According to media reports, there are over 700 cannabis clubs across Spain. I think it’s better to have marijuana sales and activity being funneled through the clubs, rather than in dark alleys and on street corners. As a possible tourist to Spain, I plan on trying to acquire marijuana while I’m there. I feel much safer visiting a brick and mortar establishment than tracking down the local drug dealer who may or may not rob me.

Darth Vader OG is an indica dominant strain, the child of Kush and Afghani. The bud has a very dark purple hue, which gives this strain its name. The scent is sweet with a slight sour grape background. The taste is a little bit skunky, but has a background of sweet grape finish.

The first thought in your head is probably "what the hell is a terpene?" Fair question. Terpenes are a widespread group of what's called organic hydro carbons and are produced by many plants that we find in the world today. Also, there are terpenoids that are terpenes that have been chemically modified. This chemically modified group includes the cannabinoids. When you light the plants on fire, this causes the chemical reaction, leading the plant to cause an effect on the person that is inhaling.

Effects of the terpenes and terpenoids to animals vary but are widespread and extremely positive. From characteristics like anti-microbial, anti-oxident, anti-carcinogenic, painkillers, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and in the case of our favorite plant, psychoactive, terpenes are definitely an asset... For the most part. It's important to be aware that there are some poisons ones out there that act as natural pest control but can also be dangerous to pets, such as the poison hemlock tree.

In cannabis alone, there are 120 different kinds of terpenes. The levels of each one varies, from just a little bit found to a whole lot. The terpenes are located in the trichomes, which is also the spot where the THC resides. The trichomes give weed that glittery shiny look that stoners love so much and also harbor the psychoactive ingredients that are needed to achieve pothead bliss. For those of you that grow, this is why harvest should happen early in the morning! As the day goes on and light/heat increase, there are more and more terpenes being vaporized by the sun. Here are seven of the 120 terpenes that are found in the cannabis plant.

1. Caryophyllene gives off a spicy yet sweet aroma that could also be called woodsy, maybe with a hint of pepper. It's a very homey smell that permeates some buds and once you crack them open, you get a whiff of what smells like a secluded little cabin tucked away in the woods of Colorado somewhere. It's definitely a great smell. In addition, it can be used topically in clove oil to assist with inflammation as well as a treatment for toothache. Caryophyllene is also the terpene that drug dogs are taught to smell for, since THC doesn't actually smell like anything.

2. Borneol is very menthol, laced with traces of camphor and pine. Borneol is found primarily in cinnamon and wormwood and is used as a calming sedative in Chinese medicine. The borneol terpene is directed to assist with recovery and fatigue, improving the energy of the user.

3. Limonene resembles that citrus smell, which is definitely craved in the pothead community. Weed that smells like fruit? Hell yeah. Limonene is what causes this with it's lemon/lime/orange scent. With a slight hint of peppermint as well, limonene repels predators and is what is found in the rinds of citrus fruits, among others. When paired with other terpenes, limonene becomes anti-bacterial and can also fight off fungus, cancer causing agents, and depression. It also promotes the absorption of other terpenes in to the body by allowing them to quickly penetrate cell membranes. One more thing? This terpene may be the reason that physically smoking marijuana doesn't cause cancerous problems in the lungs.

4. Myrcene is very earthy and resembles cloves but also with a tropical mango-ish scent. This makes a lot of sense, as Myrcene can also make the smoker more high if ingested prior to the session. It is suggested that you ingest a mango one hour prior to smoking to get the best experience possible from your weed.

5. Delta3Carene is used a lot in aroma therapy to dry excess liquid such as tears, runny noses, perspiration, and menstrual cycles. It smells sweet and piney, something definitely comforting. This terpene is what causes the dry eyes/dry mouth (cottonmouth) that some stoner experience after smoking.

6. Cineole/Eucalyptol smells of spicy mint but leaves you feeling pretty refreshed. Thought to be the cause of the cannabis creativity effect, cineole and eucalyptol are used to increase circulation and pain relief. It is fast acting, crossing the blood brain barrier to trigger a response in the brain faster than other terpenes.

7. Linalool smells of lily, citrus, and candied spice. This terpene is the calming effect of cannabis, giving the user the sedative and anti-anxiety effects that are so sought after in cannabis consumption. This effect is also cause by lavender.